Forum Help

If you want to ask about changing your username, have login problems, have password problems or a technical issue please email forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com

Posting help:

If you want to ask why a word can't be typed, your signature's been changed, or a post has been deleted see the Forum Rules. If you don't find the answer you can ask forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com though due to volumes we can't guarantee replies.

Login to MSE Forum

Join the MSE Forum

Skimlinks adds tracking to some, primarily retailers' links, to show they come from this forum. For some retailers, instead of using Skimlinks to turn the link into a tracked link, we use affiliated links set up through other third parties. Then if it generates revenue from that, this site is paid. The links don't change the content, or what you see or track individual data ? but they do help fund this free forum. So we hope you choose to switch it on. See the full Skimlinks factsheet for more.

If the payment goes into your bank account on the 21st Dec it will not clear until the 28th Dec as it takes 3 working days, i was told this today by my adviser when i asked as i'm also due to sign on on 25th with a payment due on 28th, so you wont have the money before Christmas im afraid.

Well he is most certainly a tool, but if the banks don't need government transfers to clear whats with the whole sign on, on one day and get the money in the bank 3 working days later about then, why does it not go straight in on the same/next day?

Because the job centre will be closed from Monday 24th December until 7th January all payments for this 2 week gap will be received early so people don't struggle during what's supposed to be the festive time of the year.

so yes you will recieve your payment on 21st december instead
of 2nd January as the job centre will be closed and this is for your signing on 28th december but you will not be recieving any payments after that until 16th January so spend it as normal or pay your bills in advance so when you get that long gap between 21st December and 16th January the payment your recieving well in advance would be paying this 3 week gap

so don't go out spending it as if it's a christmas bonus it has to last you 3 weeks and since you got paid this week it balances out with your usual payments

Well he is most certainly a tool, but if the banks don't need government transfers to clear whats with the whole sign on, on one day and get the money in the bank 3 working days later about then, why does it not go straight in on the same/next day?

I thought the 3 days was to do with the payment from the issuing bank, clearing to the customer account clearing on the day after its recieved.

Faster payments should mean small payments clear instantly, but this does not happen i'll assume because of the sheer volume of funds being moved everyday for benefits, being all one way traffic the clearing is never going to be balanced.

Only the dates listed are affected. Last year I was due a payment on the 27th and hoped to get it early only for it to arrive on the 27th. The DWP release BACS payments (hence the three days to "clear") a day or two early, accounting for banks being closed over Xmas, so unless your payment date is listed, it should appear in on your account on your normal payment date.

They only use Faster Payments (in which case it's a 2hr wait) when errors have occurred.

Lin, do you know if your husband will be getting any pension payments early this year? My husband was wondering whether any of his state penion will be paid early but I don't think they will. He's due to be paid 24th December and 31st December but I told him I think those payments will just be paid on the normal dates as they are not Bank Holidays.
But he never believes anything I tell him

I understand all of the above, but am a little confused about my own situation (and the JC don't even know the answer!!).
I am due to sign on next on the 26 Dec (Boxing Day) but have been excused, naturally!, and my next signing on date is 9 Jan.
What I need to know is,.. when will the Boxing Day payment 'hit' my account? The payment cannot be triggered/sent on Mon 24,Tue 25 or Wed 26 as the JC will be closed. My next payment (after this weeks) would normally go into my account on Saturday the 29th Dec, but how can that be if it needs 3 days to clear/process??
Confused.com, and so are the Job Centre!!

i was due to sign on christmas eve and receive my payment on 27th but i dont have to go back until 7th jan. my advisor is a misery and didnt mention getting the payment early but im nosy and was earwigging when the advisor next to mine told his client the payment would be paid early as the job center etc is shut. He didnt say what day but im assuming that applies to me too as i sign the same day as his client

What usually happens is the following - JCP sign you all early as appropriate and process the payments to hit your bank accounts either early as posted or on their normal days when due.
This will also apply to state pensions due into the bank on the 24/5/6th and the 1st Jan. Therefore pay the bills as they are due as you would in normal circumstances. That way you will not get into rent arrears or other difficulties. And yes same goes for child benefit and ESA and DLA or any others ones people receive.

How this site works

We think it's important you understand the strengths and limitations of the site. We're a journalistic website and aim to provide the best MoneySaving guides, tips, tools and techniques, but can't guarantee to be perfect, so do note you use the information at your own risk and we can't accept liability if things go wrong.

This info does not constitute financial advice, always do your own research on top to ensure it's right for your specific circumstances and remember we focus on rates not service.

Do note, while we always aim to give you accurate product info at the point of publication, unfortunately price and terms of products and deals can always be changed by the provider afterwards, so double check first.

We don't as a general policy investigate the solvency of companies mentioned (how likely they are to go bust), but there is a risk any company can struggle and it's rarely made public until it's too late (see the Section 75 guide for protection tips).

We often link to other websites, but we can't be responsible for their content.

Always remember anyone can post on the MSE forums, so it can be very different from our opinion.

MoneySavingExpert.com is part of the MoneySupermarket Group, but is entirely editorially independent. Its stance of putting consumers first is protected and enshrined in the legally-binding MSE Editorial Code.